Professor in Transport for Smart CitiesDept. of Infrastructure Engineering, The University of Melbourne

Matthew Howe |

General Manager – Southern Cross StationAssetco Management

Geoff Ward |

General Manager, Fishermans Bend TaskforceDepartment of Environment, Land, Water and Planning

Praveen Thakur |

Director - AdvisoryKPMG Australia

Evan Tattersall

Chief Executive OfficerMelbourne Metro Rail Authority

Brendan Bourke |

Chief Executive OfficerPort of Melbourne

Campbell Rose |

Chief ExecutiveVicTrack

Sean Duggan

DirectorUltraSpeed Australia

Stuart Ballingall |

Program Director - Connected and Automated SystemsAustroads

Paul Kenny |

Partner, Sector Leader - GovernmentAllens

Zac Kerr

Partner (Projects & Infrastructure)Mills Oakley

John Hearsch

PresidentRail Futures Institute

Michael Jarvis |

Executive PlanningMelbourne Airport

Dr Bill Russell

SecretaryRail Futures Institute

Graeme Cameron

Murray Basin Rail Project DirectorV/Line Pty Ltd

Hon. Jacinta Allan

Minister for Public Transport, Minister for Major Projects, Member for Bendigo East, VIC

Jacinta is currently the Minister for Public Transport and the Minister for Major Projects in the Andrews Government. Jacinta is also the Leader of the House.

In the previous Labor Government, Jacinta held a number of Ministerial portfolios including Regional and Rural Development and Industry and Trade. She has also been the Minister for Skills and Workforce Participation, the Minister for Skills, Education Services and Employment, the Minister for Women’s Affairs, the Minister for Education Services and Minister for Employment and Youth Affairs.

Jacinta was elected as the Member for Bendigo East in September 1999 at the age of 25, making her the youngest woman to ever be elected to the Victorian Parliament.

Jacinta was born and grew up in Bendigo and studied at St Joseph’s Primary School in Quarry Hill then Catholic College Bendigo, before completing her BA (Hon) at La Trobe University in Bendigo.

Before entering Parliament, Jacinta worked in the office of Steve Gibbons MP, Federal Member for Bendigo, and for two years prior to that she worked in the office of Neil O'Keefe MP, Federal Member for Burke, and the Commonwealth Department of Industrial Relations.

Jacinta is married and has two young children.

As Minister for Public Transport, Jacinta is looking forward to delivering a number of public transport projects including the removal of 50 of Melbourne’s most dangerous level crossings, the Metro Tunnel, extending the South Morang Line to Mernda, overseeing the purchase of new rolling stock, as well as delivering a $100 million improvement to bus services.

As Minister for Major Projects, Jacinta will also oversee the Flinders Street Station redevelopment, delivery of the Ballarat West Employment Zone, the State Library of Victoria redevelopment and co-ordinating the long-term development of key precincts like Fisherman’s Bend and Arden-Macaulay.

Hon. Tim Pallas MP

Treasurer, VIC

Tim was elected to the Victorian Parliament in 2006 and is the state member for Werribee. Following the election of the Andrews Labor Government in November 2014, he was sworn in as Victoria’s 50th Treasurer.

His first budget in May 2015 delivered the biggest education budget and investment in public transport in the State’s history. His second budget in April 2016 included the single biggest school capital investment in Victoria’s history as well as fully funding the construction of Melbourne’s new Metro Tunnel.

As Treasurer, we have seen a significant improvement in Victoria economically, with strong growth and the fastest growth in full-time jobs in the nation.

Tim previously served in the Bracks and Brumby Governments as Minister for Roads and Ports, and later added Major Projects to his responsibilities.

As Minister for Roads he oversaw the M1 Upgrade, the construction of the Deer Park Bypass and Geelong Ring Road, completed the upgrade of the Calder Freeway to improve links to Bendigo, and was responsible for commencing the Peninsula Link project on the Mornington Peninsula.

In the Major Projects portfolio, he was responsible for big ticket items like the development of AAMI Stadium, the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, as well as the Melbourne Recital Centre and Melbourne Theatre Company’s auditorium.

Jeroen Weimar

Chief Executive Officer, Public Transport Victoria

Jeroen joined Public Transport Victoria in January 2015 as Executive Director, Performance & Contract Management, leading the management of franchise agreements and operating contracts for Metro Trains, Yarra Trams, V/Line and all bus contracts across Melbourne and regional Victoria.

Jeroen also oversaw the introduction of Victoria’s successful Night Network, delivering all night public transport on weekends across the metropolitan network and key regional centres.

Prior to joining PTV, ​Jeroen was Chief Operating Officer, UK Bus at FirstGroup plc, where he was responsible for the operation of over 6,000 buses and 17,000 staff operating across the UK and the turnaround of 40 regional bus businesses.

Jeroen has also served as Managing Director, UK Transport for Serco Group plc, and as Chief Operating Officer, Surface Transport at Transport for London (TfL).

Jeroen was appointed Chief Executive Officer in September 2016.

Allen Garner

Chief Operating Officer, Level Crossing Removal Authority

Allen has over 35 years’ experience in the construction sector. Prior to joining the Level Crossing Removal Authority in July 2015, Allen worked on the Regional Rail Link project, one of Australia’s largest infrastructure projects. He joined the Regional Rail Link Authority in 2010, first as the Chief Operating Officer, and then served as Chief Executive Officer from July 2014 until the completion of the project. With his industry knowledge and private sector experience, he led the delivery of the award-winning project ahead of time and under budget.

A strong believer in the value of people, the power of collaboration and the exceptional outcomes achievable through teamwork; Allen has a pragmatic leadership approach with well-honed management skills and an underlying passion for innovation.

Allen has wide-ranging experience of Alliance Leadership Teams, Joint Ventures and major project boards. He has delivered high value complex infrastructure projects in the water sector and across the transport sector including road, rail and airport modes.

Peter Todd

Deputy Chief Executive, VicRoads

Peter Todd is the Deputy Chief Executive for VicRoads and is responsible for the leadership, management and direction for Investment and Design Services, Regional Services and Major Projects Divisions. This includes:

Delivery of projects and maintenance through state-wide regional and project offices,

Peter joined VicRoads in 2012 as Regional Director Metropolitan South East Region. He was responsible for the management of the road network in the south east of Melbourne including network planning, traffic management, road maintenance and project delivery.Prior to joining VicRoads, Peter was the General Manager Roads and Traffic for the Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources in Tasmania. He was responsible for the management of the State’s declared road network including capital projects, maintenance, road network development, road safety improvements, traffic management and network operations. He joined DIER from the then Transport South Australia where he had extensive experience in planning, design and metropolitan and rural road operations.In summary, Peter

Graduated with an Honours degree in Civil Engineering, University of Adelaide in 1980

Completed Masters of Business Administration, Deakin University in 2000

Has more than 30 years experience in road transport engineering, project management and delivery, asset management and field operations

A graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors

Michel Masson

Chief Executive Officer, Infrastructure Victoria

Michel started his career at Deloitte before joining the Bollore Group where he held various senior finance positions in the transport and logistics division in the UK, Australia and New Zealand. In 2005 he joined Keolis as head of Finance and Operations for the International Division where he was responsible for leading public transport operations in seven countries and held various non-executive director positions in UK and German rail franchises.Michel was appointed CEO of Yarra Trams in 2009 and helped lead the development of Keolis Downer throughout Australia, before joining the Calibre group in 2014 to create and lead its Transport Infrastructure business.

Michel is a graduate from the Harvard Business School (AMP), the EDHEC Business School in France, and the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA) credential and is a member of the US CFA Institute.

Michel became an Australian citizen in 2014.

Peter Anderson

Chief Executive Officer, Victorian Transport Association

Peter Anderson is one of Australia's foremost experts in transport and logistics, with a lifelong career working in the business of freight movement for private businesses, and more recently Victoria's peak transport industry representative group.

As Chief Executive Officer of the Victorian Transport Association, a role he has held since late 2014, Peter is the voice of over 800 transport and logistics operators in Victoria, with a focus on enhancing the productivity, safety, workforce development and sustainability of the industry through leadership and advocacy.

Peter was appointed VTA CEO after serving as a Board member since 2007. His involvement with the VTA dates back to 1994, serving on numerous committees and as honorary Chair of the VTA's General Freight Committee and its Container Group.

Coming from a transport family, Peter has lived and breathed freight and logistics his whole life. He has held management positions since 1983, becoming only the second Chief Executive Officer at The Scott Group of Companies, where he drove major cultural change and business improvements.

Dr. Tony Morton

President, Public Transport Users Association

Dr Tony Morton is an electrical engineer and President of the Public Transport Users Association, Victoria. Over two decades Dr Morton has been involved in the public debate over major road projects and public transport alternatives, and for reform of governance and management arrangements for public transport, with a focus on multimodal network planning and community involvement in decision making. Aside from public transport Dr Morton's interests include renewable energy, smart electricity grids and modelling of complex engineering systems. Dr Morton works as a consultant in the electric power industry and holds adjunct academic appointments at the University of Melbourne School of Engineering and Monash University.

David Clements

Program Director - Major Projects Victoria, Transurban

David Clements is the Program Director for Major Projects in Victoria for Transurban. Projects under his remit include the $1 billion CityLink Tullamarine Widening Project and the $400 million Monash Freeway Upgrade Project. Both projects currently under construction. David also has role in the development and evaluation of the $5.5 billion Western Distributor Project. He has over 15 years’ experience in the infrastructure and construction industry and has gathered experience on a diverse range of projects including high rise buildings, processing plants and large scale transport infrastructure projects in both green and brown field environments.

David spent seven years working in Asia on building and civil construction engineering projects prior to moving back to Australia in 2003. Prior to joining Transurban David was the General Manager of Southern Way, the Project Company responsible for the finance, design, construction, delivery and operation of the 27km long Peninsula Link Freeway in Melbourne. He was also the Project Director of one of the two consortiums to be shortlisted for the final stages of the recent $5 billion East West Link Project bid in Melbourne. David has had extensive exposure to a broad range of project delivery models including managing contractor, design and construct, EPC, alliances and public private partnerships.David joined Transurban in October 2014.

Dr Crystal Legacy

Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Urban Research, RMIT University

Crystal is an Australian Research Council (DECRA) Fellow at the Centre for Urban Research at RMIT University, Australia. Crystal’s research focuses on questions of urban governance, citizen engagement, urban politics and infrastructure implementation. Her DECRA research examines the politics of urban transport infrastructure with a specific focus on the impact ‘politics’ has on local democratic planning practices in Australian and Canadian cities. She is the co-editor of Building Inclusive Cities: Women’s safety and the right to the city (Routledge, 2013) and of Instruments of Planning: Tensions and Challenge for more Equitable and Sustainable Cities (Routledge, 2015).

Michael Hopkins

Michael is an experienced public sector executive with 25 years service in Territory and State Governments. He has had roles in transport, planning and environmental policy, including a period as a Chief of Staff to the ACT Minister for Urban Services. He is currently the Interim Deputy Secretary for Network Planning in the Victorian Government's transport group and is responsible for planning for the future transport network needs of Victoria. Michael has a BA in Philosophy and a Masters degree in Public Administration from the Australian and New Zealand School of Government.

Gavin Hill

Gavin joined TCA in 2011. He has a diverse background in the area of road transport regulation and national reform, and addresses public policy needs through the use of telematics and other intelligent technologies. Gavin has managed the implementation of national regulatory and non-regulatory telematics and ITS programs, and led national and state-based reform to deliver public purpose outcomes.

Gavin has an Honours Degree in Economics, and Master’s Degree in Public Administration for the Graduate School of Government at The University of Sydney.

Brian Negus

General Manager - Public Policy, RACV

Brian Negus is General Manager Public Policy for RACV where he is accountable for research and formulating policies and initiatives addressing road and public transport infrastructure and operational issues, road safety, road use management, safer vehicles, driver education and training and environmental issues in the transport sector. The Department advocates for and is the public face for these issues on behalf of the RACV’s 2 million members. Brian was formerly the Deputy Director of Public Transport with the Victorian Department of Transport and previously held the position of Metropolitan Regional Director with VicRoads, Victoria’s state road authority for 8 years. Prior to this Brian worked across many areas of the transport sector, including ITS implementation, transport projects and policy formulation. Brian is the President of Intelligent Transport Systems Australia (ITSA) and represents ITSA on the ITS Asia Pacific World Congress Board. Brian holds qualifications in Civil Engineering, Transport and Traffic Engineering and Management.

Majid Sarvi, PhD

Professor in Transport for Smart Cities, Dept. of Infrastructure Engineering, The University of Melbourne

Majid Sarvi is the chair in transport engineering and the professor in transport engineering for smart cities at the department of Infrastructure engineering, University of Melbourne. He has over 22 years of professional, academic and research experience in the areas of traffic and transport engineering. His researches are multidisciplinary with international outlook and both theoretically oriented and applied in nature. His fields of research include a range of topics, including: large-scale multimodal transport network modelling, vulnerability and optimisation, crowd dynamic modelling and simulation, as well as application of the Internet of Things and ICT in transport engineering. He has been the author/co-author of over 270 refereed publications in highly regarded journals, conferences and proceedings. Majid has served on several international research committees, the Network Modelling Committee (ADB30), Traffic Flow Theory and Characteristics Committee (AHB45), and the Emergency Evacuation Committee (ANB80) Transportation Research Board (TRB) of the U.S. National Research Council. He is also the founder and co-chair of the Crowd Dynamic Modelling committee AHB45(2) of TRB. He serves on the editorial board of several eminent journals including Transportation research part C, Journal of Advanced transportation and Transportmetrica. He has extensive industry and consultancy experience. He has worked in consultancy projects in Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, and Middle East.

Matthew Howe

General Manager – Southern Cross Station, Assetco Management

Matthew is a highly experienced leader in the major public venue industries. He has held executive roles within some of the world’s leading facilities including Crown Melbourne, Melbourne & Olympic Parks and currently as the General Manager, Assetco Management at Southern Cross Station.

As the General Manager, Southern Cross Station he oversees the operations of the only privately owned and operated transportation hub in Australia. The Southern Cross Station Precinct hosts over 63 million patrons per year and is a vibrant mix of public transport operators, commercial business stream, facilities management and retail management segments.

In his previous role as General Manager, Arenas at Melbourne & Olympic Parks he has overseen the successful operations of Australia’s leading arena, Rod Laver Arena as well as Hisense Arena and the operational delivery of the Australian Open Grand Slam Tennis Championship, together comprising one of the business event precincts in the world.

Geoff Ward

General Manager, Fishermans Bend Taskforce, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning

Geoff has a broad experience in urban renewal gained from local and international projects with private and government organisations. He has worked on some of the worlds’ largest renewal schemes including Melbourne Docklands, Central Reclamation in Hong Kong and Raha Beach and Capital district in Abu Dhabi. Geoff was recently appointed the general manager for the Fishermans Bend urban renewal project.

Praveen Thakur

Director - Advisory, KPMG Australia

Praveen is a Director with KPMG and leads KPMG’s Transport Policy and Economics service offering and has authored several manuscripts and referred journal articles on transport policy, planning and economics.

He has led and managed numerous complex transport and urban renewal projects across Australia. This has included providing advice on integrated land use and transport planning, business case preparation, economic appraisal and land use/ urban renewal and value capture assessments.

Praveen recently led KPMG’s research on the impact of autonomous vehicles on Melbourne’s urban form and transport network performance. He also advised Infrastructure Victoria on major transport projects as well as policy and technology initiatives for the development of Infrastructure Victoria’s 30-year Infrastructure Plan. The analysis included assessment of autonomous vehicles on Melbourne’s transport network including its impact on the proposed major road and rail projects.

Evan Tattersall

Chief Executive Officer, Melbourne Metro Rail Authority

Evan Tattersall has 30 years' experience in construction across a number of sectors including the transport and building sectors.

His extensive experience working in Melbourne's metropolitan rail environment includes Craigieburn Electrification Project and most recently leading one of the complex inner city packages on the $4.1 billion Regional Rail Link project.

Evan was a Principal of Melbourne with Evans & Peck for 12 years and with Thiess as Construction Manager across Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania for 10 years.

Brendan Bourke

Chief Executive Officer, Port of Melbourne

As Chief Executive Officer of the Port of Melbourne, Brendan brings over 35 years of corporate experience and a wealth of infrastructure expertise including former CEO of Queensland Motorways, where he oversaw the successful transition of the business from government to private ownership. Brendan was also the former Chief Operating Officer of Transurban Group, with responsibilities including serving as CEO of CityLink Melbourne for almost nine years.

Campbell Rose

Chief Executive, VicTrack

Cam was appointed to his current role in February 2013. As a seasoned senior executive, with experience across major events, infrastructure development and business transformation, he has led the repositioning of VicTrack.

VicTrack is a Victorian Government agency with custodial responsibility for public transport infrastructure and land. VicTrack has an asset base of $30 billion (with an additional $2 billion in rolling stock assets in associated companies) and the largest landholder in Victoria after the Crown. VicTrack has three core areas of focus being property and land management through its Property Group, via the Australian Communications Management Authority, a telecommunications licence providing underpinning telecommunication services to the transport sector through its Telecommunications Group and a projects delivery division through its Projects Group.

Cam’s prior experience includes Chief Executive of the Melbourne Major Events Company, the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games Bid, the 2001 Brisbane Goodwill Games, the Western Bulldogs and Stralliance Developments, a Melbourne-based development and construction company.

Cam has a strong track record at the interface of public and private infrastructure, including property development.

Sean Duggan

Director, UltraSpeed Australia

Sean is currently a Director of Ultraspeed Australia, Hyperloop-One’s official representative in Australia. He is working with Hyperloop One to support the implementation ultra-high speed ground transport (over 1,000 km/h) project for Australia.

Sean has 30 years’ professional experience as an economist and 15 years’ specific involvement in investment promotion, economic and location development. His main areas of interest and expertise are in economic and location development, location strategy, and investment promotion practice.

During the course of his career Sean has negotiated, managed and delivered more than 125 programs and projects in over 25 countries for a range of government, private sector and international development agency clients. This includes specific economic assessment projects and business proposition development for high speed ground transport in Australia and the UK, as well as economic, location and investment promotion strategy and planning at national, city, and local area levels.

Sean is a Director with ILSA Consulting, a specialist economic development and investment promotion consulting firm. He has held previously held senior positions with the investment promotion consultancy OCO Global, where he was Head of Consulting, and the Foreign Investment Advisory Service, an advisory unit within the World Bank Group, where he was Regional Program Coordinator for the Pacific.

Sean also spent 10 years as a consultant with PwC in Australia, Hong Kong, and the UK and with the specialist economic and planning consultancy Pieda, in Scotland.

Sean holds MSc Management Sciences, from the University of Manchester, and a BA Economics (Honours) First class with Commendation, from the University of Exeter.

Sean is a member of the Chartered Management Institute (UK) and the Institute of Welsh Affairs.

Stuart Ballingall

Program Director - Connected and Automated Systems, Austroads

Stuart Ballingall is the Program Director - Connected & Automated Vehicles at Austroads, which is the association of Australian and New Zealand road transport authorities. Stuart also has a leading role preparing for emerging transport technologies in his role as Director - Transport Futures at VicRoads. Other roles currently held include with the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) board of directors, and the National Positioning Infrastructure Advisory Board. Stuart has significant experience leading technical programs that span across the transport, automotive, and ICT industries. Previous senior roles held by Stuart include with General Motors Holden, the Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV), and VicRoads. Stuart is also an active member on numerous government and industry forums, both at the national and international level.

Paul Kenny

Partner, Sector Leader - Government, Allens

Paul Kenny is the leader of the Allens National Government Advisory practice. He has more than 25 years' experience advising government and private sector clients on commercial transactions, financing arrangements, major infrastructure projects and industry reform and restructure assignments. He is a specialist in energy sector reform, privatisation, contracting and regulation.

Paul's work has included advising governments in Australia and the Asia Pacific region on the comprehensive reform of electricity and gas supply industries and their ongoing economic regulation. In the area of infrastructure project development and regulation, Paul's experience includes substantial work on public transport franchising and infrastructure procurement projects in the transport, water, defence and other sectors. Paul has led the Allens team that has worked with the Victorian Government to reform its regional and metropolitan train and tram network under a rail franchising model, as well as its procurement and financing of new rolling stock.

Zac Kerr

Partner (Projects & Infrastructure), Mills Oakley

Zac is a partner in Mills Oakley’s Melbourne office, working in the areas of Projects and Infrastructure across Australia and Asia. Zac is at the forefront of PPP and infrastructure developments in Australia and New Zealand, in advising bidders, financiers and contractors on projects, establishing government policy, frameworks, understanding legal and industry developments and in project evaluation and delivery. Zac has specialised knowledge of the tollroad sector (having advised on every privately owned tollroad in Australia (amongst others)) and the PPP sector (having advised in relation to the majority of PPPs undertaken in Australia to date). Prior to moving to Mills Oakley 15 months ago, Zac spent 14 years at Herbert Smith Freehills in their Projects Delivery team.

John Hearsch

President, Rail Futures Institute

John Hearsch has been an Australian career railwayman and transport administrator for over 50 years. He is currently principal of his own consultancy, John Hearsch Consulting Pty Ltd, and is among Australia’s foremost rail experts. He was formerly Chief General Manager, Transport Operations, of V/Line and later Group General Manager, Freight of Queensland Rail (QR), responsible for marketing, financial, operational and maintenance performance of QR’s extensive freight business including over 6000 route km of infrastructure, freight terminals, locomotives and wagons. He is a founder and President of the Rail Futures Institute.

Michael Jarvis

Executive Planning, Melbourne Airport

Michael leads Melbourne Airport’s transport infrastructure planning, utility services planning and off-airport safeguarding functions. With consultancy, airport and airline management experience, Michael has worked across a wide range of aviation strategic planning, commercial and development disciplines. At Melbourne Airport Michael has contributed to, led and delivered a range of strategic planning studies, infrastructure plans and projects including Melbourne Airport’s masterplan, self-service check-in initiatives and the New Terminal 4 project.

Dr Bill Russell

Secretary, Rail Futures Institute

Dr E W (Bill) Russell is Managing Director of E W Russell and Associates Pty Ltd, management and training consultants. Bill held Professorial posts at 5 universities, headed the Graduate School of Government at Monash University and was Co-Director for eight years of the Australasian Centre for the Governance and Management of Urban Transport at the University of Melbourne. He has been Director-General of two Victorian Government departments, a Commissioner of the former State Electricity Commission of Victoria and has authored three books and many strategic studies and inquiries on port and rail issues and other public management questions .He is Secretary of Rail Futures Institute.

Graeme Cameron

Murray Basin Rail Project Director, V/Line Pty Ltd

Graeme Cameron assumed the role of Project Director with V/Line for the Murray Basin Rail Project in February 2017.